Thurston County auditor seeks board OK to buy enhanced ballot duplication stations

Thurston County elections staff on Dec. 2 asked the Board of County Commissioners to authorize the county auditor to purchase two enhanced ballot duplication stations intended to support accessibility and duplicate ballots during recounts. Elections manager Tilly Polar said the upfront cost is approximately $66,000 plus tax and shipping, and that subsequent annual licensing would begin in 2027 with an initial annual cost estimated near $13,000 and scheduled increases in later years.

Polar said the equipment will be paid from Fund 190 and clarified the county’s license term would not begin until 2027. She told the board that the machines were being delivered later that day and that staff were concurrently running a machine recount.

Commissioners acknowledged the workload of election staff during recounts and thanked the elections team for their work. No commissioner expressed opposition during the morning review; staff indicated they would bring the authorization forward for signature that afternoon.

Speakers quoted (from meeting): “These will be delivered this year,” Tilly Polar said, noting staff planned to sign documents later that day and prepare for delivery.

What’s next: Authorization will be finalized in the afternoon board session and the equipment will be prepared for delivery and deployment.